Somerville, MA Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)
Quiet hours in Somerville, MA, also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time, define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
Key Facts
- Weeknight quiet hours
- 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM
- Weekend quiet hours
- 11:00 PM to 9:00 AM
- State authority
- MGL c.40 s.21
- Report issues
- Somerville 311 or (617) 625-6600
- Base fine
- 100 dollars per violation
Summary
Somerville enforces nighttime quiet hours under its noise control ordinance, restricting loud sounds audible at property lines during late-night and early-morning periods across this densely populated Boston-metro city.
Section 21. Towns may, for the purposes hereinafter named, make such ordinances and by-laws, not repugnant to law, as they may judge most conducive to their welfare, which shall be binding upon all inhabitants thereof and all persons within their limits. They may, except as herein provided, affix penalties for breaches thereof not exceeding three hundred dollars for each offense, which shall enure to the town or to such uses as it may direct.
Full Breakdown
Somerville, the densest city in New England with triple-decker housing and tight lot spacing, enforces quiet hours under the Somerville Noise Control Ordinance (Code of Ordinances Chapter 9). Unreasonable noise audible beyond the source property is restricted nightly from 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM weekdays and until 9:00 AM on weekends and holidays. The ordinance derives authority from Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 40 Section 21, which empowers cities to regulate noise. Residents in triple-deckers, apartments near Davis Square, Union Square, and Ball Square, and houses adjacent to Tufts University student housing are commonly affected. Somerville Police and the Inspectional Services Division handle complaints through 311 or (617) 625-6600. First-offense violations typically draw a written warning; subsequent violations carry fines starting at 100 dollars per occurrence. Commercial establishments, including bars and restaurants, face stricter scrutiny under their entertainment licenses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who enforces quiet hours in Somerville?
Are quiet hours different on weekends?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Somerville
How Somerville compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·Compare Somerville to another location·View the Massachusetts noise ordinances overview
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Quiet Hours in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle quiet hours.